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Description: FreeCAD may be free software, yet its features are steering users towards non-free software. It is asking for Teigha File Converter which is proprietary software, and it is asking for the path in order to enable the option import/export.

Additional info:

* package version: community/freecad 0.16-9

Steps to reproduce:

After attempt to open the DWF/DXF file FreeCad is to request the Teigha File Converter which is proprietary software.

Under the menu Edit → Preferences → Import/Export → DWG, one can see the request to enter the path to Teigha File Converter.

community/pinta 1.6-2 [installed]
Drawing/editing program modeled after Paint.NET. It's goal is to provide a simplified alternative to GIMP for casual users

I am not quite sure what the policy is in Hyperbola on this one. I am referring to the reference to the proprietary software Paint.NET. That is for me steering users to verify what is Paint.NET – we shall not be doing it. It should be removed from description.

I am fine if authors have in documentation something explaining how they started software project. But I am not fine in descriptions which are public and accessible on Internet to have such references to illegitimate proprietary software.

Just to clarify, the word “alternative” is just fine in this description and need not be removed.

To refer to published works as “assets”, or “digital assets”, is even worse than calling them “content” — it presumes they have no value to society except commercial value.

community/openmw 0.41.0-3.hyperbola1
A libre engine reimplementation for Morrowind-based role-playing games, without wizard installation support to install nonfree assets from Morrowind to run Morrowind

The expression “BSD-style license” leads to confusion because it lumps together licenses that have important differences. For instance, the original BSD license with the advertising clause is incompatible with the GNU General Public License, but the revised BSD license is compatible with the GPL.

To avoid confusion, it is best to name the specific license in question and avoid the vague term “BSD-style.”

In my opinion, this software shall be either removed, or features disabled to access either Google or Facebook, as those are proprietary networks.

Further, using those proprietary networks is steering users towards non-free software, directly, or indirectly, as many times Javascript need to be handled that is proprietary.

extra/kaccounts-integration 17.04.0-1 (kde-applications kdenetwork)
Small system to administer web accounts for the sites and services across the KDE desktop, including: Google, Facebook, Owncloud, IMAP, Jabber and others

extra/kaccounts-providers 17.04.0-1 (kde-applications kdenetwork)
Small system to administer web accounts for the sites and services across the KDE desktop, including: Google, Facebook, Owncloud, IMAP, Jabber and others

I do not see why would “Google” and “Facebook” be there on the first place. This software shall be either removed, or features to access proprietary networks disabled.

Another point is that often such access would required handling the proprietary javascript. I do not know if that is the case here.

Description is vague because of the word “content”. The word itself is fine in English language, but here it is used out of the proper context. And it is not not necessary at all. When one knows what is the abbreviation of ROM, such as Read-Only Memory, then any mentioning of contents of ROM is needless. It is enough to say: “Download/upload/manipulate the ROM and EEPROM of AVR microcontrollers”

Don’t use “freely available software” as a synonym for “free software.” The terms are not equivalent. Software is “freely available” if anyone can easily get a copy. “Free software” is defined in terms of the freedom of users that have a copy of it. These are answers to different questions.